Seattle, Washington

Here is a look at our trip to Seattle last fall told by a few pictures. 

Top Pot Doughnuts: A must when in the area. I am a huge Krispy Kreme fan and am still on the fence as to which doughnut  I prefer. I guess I will just have to go back to do more "research!"

Freemont Troll: It was a lot of fun to find this big guy. Everyone takes turns taking pictures with the troll. Depending on what time of day you go, you will probably find someone there to snap a photo of you. We were able to find a rock to (re) take photos on our own (the girl whom offered to take ours didn't actually press the button hard enough to capture a picture). While you are in the area- go get some chocolate from the Theo Factory (the tour is amazing and I was SO excited to see their chocolate at local grocery stores here in SoCal)! 

Gas Works Park: This is a nice green space for walking, running, picnicing, etc. You can see the Seattle skyline from here, so get your cameras ready!

The Space Needle: You can not go to Seattle and not take a photo of The Space Needle. I think it's a rule or something. I believe this particular shot was taken near The Museum of History and Industry (definitely worth a visit!) and The Center for Wooden Boats (we did not visit this, but a friend of ours volunteers there and loves it). 

The Athenian is over a century old! It is located in Pike's Place Market and is known for it's brief cameo in Sleepless in Seattle. I love that they have labeled the spots where Tom Hanks and Rob Reiner sat during the scene filmed here.  I have officially sat in the same spot as Tom Hanks...decades later, but still! If you are big Starbucks fan, be sure to check out the first store which is close by. 

It was pretty cloudy during our short stay in Seattle, but I did finally get to see Mount Rainier as we flew home! Spectacular! 

Aliva's El Ranchito, San Clemente, CA

Aliva's El Ranchito has several locations around coastal southern California. I have only been to the San Clemente location on Del Mar. It can get busy in the evening, so I would suggest getting there early. If seating is available you can sit at the bar while you wait for a table.  However, there is not much room to stand around the bar and enjoy one of their many margaritas while you wait. There is a nice patio outback if you wish to dine outside.  You may need to wait longer for your table, but if you have the time it's a nice play to relax. They have plenty of heat lamps if it's a chilly evening, so don't be afraid to sit outside even if it's cold.

El Ranchito has some tasty chips and salsa, a good happy hour, and huge meal portions. The last time I ate here I had a burrito which was HUGE.  If you like margaritas be sure to try one or two of their many varieties!

 My huge steak burrito. It was bigger than my face!

Sam's quesadilla. 

Rocco's Restaurant, San Clemente, CA

Finally made it to Rocco's Restaurant earlier this week. The restaurant serves Latin and European cuisine.  Do not mistake La Rocco's Pizzeria (This may be a great place, but I have not eaten there so I can not vouch for it) for Rocco's Restaurant which is just a few blocks down the street. Please, please, please go if you are in the area. The ambiance was cozy and inviting and the food was fantastic. There was also a man playing the guitar for most of our meal.

We were served little bites of cornbread with aioli.  This was a sophisticated version of corn dog breading (without the hot dog) and the aioli added a nice flavor.

Next, we had the tuna empanadas. They were served with a side of lettuce with balsamic dressing as well as bit of what we think was pesto for dipping. The empanadas were tasty, though think there could have been more filling in them. This would be a great appetizer to split with a small group.

Sam and split the pesto linguine which was one of the specials. The pesto was very creamy and flavorful. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and were a nice addition to the pasta, cheese and pesto. The portions are large enough to split especially if you get an appetizer to share first. Be aware that there is a $2 charge for splitting entrees (this is clearly noted on the menu). I'd rather pay the $2 than have to take half my meal home and have it not taste as good the next day.

I enjoyed a glass of Hob Nob Pinot Noir from France. It was $9/glass which is a little on the higher end for this area. There was a pretty good selection of wine, but not much of a beer selection for those of you prefer your alcohol in the hoppy variety.

Our friend whom dined with us had one of the seafood pastas with a red sauce. I enjoyed a few bites of his meal, but enjoyed mine much more. I thought the red sauce was a little bland for my taste.  The scallop that I tried was very tender.

We finished the meal with a chocolate tiramisu.  I normally don't care for this Italian dessert as I don't care for coffee.  I easily ate half of this while Sam was trying to fight me off with his spoon. The desserts are not listed on the menu, so be sure to ask your server for the days selection of tasty treats.

 Complimentary cornbread 

 My portion of one of the specials: pesto linguine. So creamy!

Chocolate Tiramisu 

The Griddle, Los Angeles, CA

Expect a wait if you check out this West Hollywood hit. It is worth it.

Make sure to bring your appetite! The portions are huge and the menu is extensive.  All you really need to know is that you should order some french toast or pancakes.

Or both.

The pancakes come in stacks of three. And they are as big as your head. It is not on the menu, but you can order one or two pancakes.

We had the Oreo filled pancake called "Dark Magic." Pretty spectacular stuff.

What could be better than an Oreo filled pancake?

How about chips a hoy crusted french toast?

This was fantastic! Definitely the rest french toast I have ever eaten. I know I keep saying that. But that's only because each place is better than the last.

Please go here (with a large appetite) if you are in the area. Enjoy something sweet for me!

The Cellar, San Clemente, CA

Last night Sam took me on a date to The Cellar. We had passed it multiple times as it is a few blocks from our apartment. I had always wanted to stop by (it has a quaint patio, wine, cheese and accesories for sale and sometimes live music playing), but had not made time to do so until last night. 

Happy Hour is from 4-6 PM. There were some wine, beer and food specials. I enjoyed a $5 glass of pinot noir and Sam had a $5 glass of Chimay white.

The cheese plate was fabulous. We had 3 different cheeses each paired with a little treat. The first was a cheese made from cow's milk prepared in brie style. It was very creamy and was served with Spanish almonds and raw honey. The next cheese was a goat cheese served with a pepper jelly. Last, was a blue cheese served with fig and almond bread.

We also enjoyed the burger which is dressed with bleu cheese, roasted peppers, and bacon.I have a hard time not ordering sweet potato fries when they are near, so we added that to our order as well. 

These were the best sweet potato fries we have ever had. Ever. Seriously. 

They are served with just the right amount of sea salt as well as cheese (the brown looking stuff on top seen in the picture) and

-honey! 

The honey really brought out the sweetness of the fries. Why had I not thought of this before?!

If you like wine, cheese and good food make sure you stop by The Cellar if you are in the area.  They have a great selection of wine and cheese for purchase in their shop. If you don't have time for a meal run in to check out the shop and grab something to go. Enjoy!

Aria, Las Vegas, NV

My husband and I just returned from a stay at Aria.  The hotel and casino was built recently. The lobby, casino, and rooms are modern and tastefully decorated. The casino is bright (and doesn't stink of smoke) unlike some of its older neighbors on the strip. The rooms themselves are decked out with remote EVERYTHING. From the curtains to the lights and music, everything can be changed with the touch of a button or an on screen control.

There are plenty of food and drink options on the property. We rarely left the hotel (with the exception going out for shows and tours) because we found so much to eat and see at Aria. The crepes at Jean Philippe Patisserie are not to be missed (the sandwiches are good, too!).  Our favorite crepes were the chocolate and the nutella.  Julian Serrano serves great tapas and sangria. From 4 PM to 5:30 PM, the sangria and 11 of the tapas are half off. The sliders, meatballs, lamb chop were my favorites. We also had the calamari, tuna cones, and raspberry tuna skewers. This restaurant serves three different types of sangria- red, rose, and white. We tried the red and rose. The red was one of the best red sangrias I have ever tasted. The rose was light and refreshing.

The fitness facility is huge with plenty of cardio equipment, free weights and Cybex machines. The treadmills overlook the pool and have tv's mounted to them. Swipe your card at the desk when you arrive and grab a towel and bottle of water.

Be sure to get to the pool early if you are visiting at the end of the week or weekend. The pool started to get crowded on Wednesday and Thursday was much busier.  I imagine it is packed on weekends.

The Potato Shack, Encinitas, CA

I first heard about The Potato Shack from a running magazine. There was an article on post run pancakes. As a runner and avid pancake lover, I was floored that there was such a thing as "post run pancakes" and I was unaware. How could I not know about this?

There are plenty of potato options on the menu including fries, hash, and baked potatoes to name a few. I have yet to try them.

I'm all about the man hole cover pancakes. We get one with chocolate chips. It is huge in diameter and very thick with just the right amount of chocolately goodness in each bite. Come hungry or bring a friend to help you eat it all.

Today, Sam's eyes were bigger than his stomach. In addition to this huge pancake he ordered not one, but TWO orders of french toast. I was appalled at the amount of food when it arrived, however tucked in and went to work. The french toast was easily the best or second best I have ever had.

If you are in the area, do not miss out on the food here!

Cabo Cantina, Newport Beach, CA

Yesterday we ended up at Newport Beach near the pier for a late lunch. We choose Cabo Cantina in hopes of getting a spot with a view and a margarita. It was pretty happening when we arrived shortly after 3pm.

We ended up with a table by the bar sans a view. On Mondays, if you order a margarita as big as your head you get a free bean and cheese burrito. The burrito was large (though not as big as the margarita) and we split that along with chips, salsa and some guac.

The queso was okay. Well. Because its queso. However, still not the liquid, white queso from The East Coast for which we are still aimlessly hunting. The guac was also good, though not great. My husband enjoyed the salsa. I thought it was okay. It was watery (which I like) and of the roasted red pepper variety. I don't dig my salsa tasting like roasted peppers or chile's or whatever, but Sam doesn't mind.

Oh. Did I tell you we loved the margarita as big as my head? We split it and I'm glad we did. Not only did it pack a punch, but Sam ordered it frozen and it began to melt quickly. I'd like to try one on the rocks next time.

Our bill was around $25 which means the margarita was close to $20. Not sure I would have been thrilled with this if we hadn't gotten the free burrito. Otherwise we enjoyed our time at Cabo Cantina (with the exception of the bathroom which was disgusting).

I would go back again, particularly during happy hour. We arrived before happy hour, but the deals looked pretty decent.

Pedro's Tacos, San Clemente, CA

This place is legit.

Walk up to the window to place your order, then eat on the bench outside. There are no tables or bathrooms. 

Cash only, but there is an ATM next to the pick up window.

For less than a buck you can add potatoes to your taco or burrito.  This is definitely the way to go. 

Grab a taco where the locals go. You won't be disappointed.